Medical gown

ABSTRACT

A medical gown has a front side extending to a back side which in combination forms a body covering which covers at least an upper portion of a medical personnel wearing color coded scrubs. The medical gown is made of an untinted, un-colored, clear, transparent, or translucent thermoplastic. Alternatively, the medical gown may include a clear or transparent window.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to medical gowns, and specifically to medical gowns which are worn by medical personnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's modern hospitals the medical staff or personnel oftentimes wear medical scrubs during their daily activities. These medical scrubs may be color coded according to the specific job or position of the person wearing the scrubs. For example, a doctor may wear dark blue scrubs, a nurse may wear light blue scrubs, a surgeon may wear green scrubs, and a medical technician may wear maroon scrubs. The color coding of the scrubs enable other medical personnel to quickly and efficiently identify the position of the person wearing the scrubs without having to make a verbal confirmation of such. This being especially true when in an isolation situation that renders communication difficult at times due to face coverings.

Heretofore, medical gowns are worn by medical personnel to prevent their underlying clothing, such as scrubs, from becoming soiled or infected with pathogens. These medical personnel gowns may be made of a cloth material or a plastic sheet material.

However, a problem exists when a medical personnel wears a medical gown, such as an isolation gown, over the top of the medical scrubs. The presence of the medical gown may cover the scrubs so that the color coding of the scrubs is no longer apparent. Thus, the medical gown defeats the purpose of the color coding of the scrubs. This problem exists even when the medical gown is made of a thin plastic material having a color or tint which may distort or make difficult the identification of the coloring of the underlying color coded scrubs.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a medical gown that does not prevent the identification of the underlying clothing worn by medical personnel. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a medical gown comprises a front side and a back side coupled to the front side. At least a portion of the front side is made of a transparent material positioned to enable the exposure of an underlying garment worn by a person donning the medical gown.

In another preferred form of the invention a medical gown and medical scrub system worn comprises a color coded medical scrub, and a medical gown having front side and a rear side. A portion of the medical gown is transparent to enable the viewing of the color coded medical scrub beneath the medical gown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective, front view of a medical gown embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form, shown worn by a person wearing medical scrubs.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, front of a medical gown in another preferred form of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a medical gown 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The gown 10 has a front side or portion 11 extending to a back side or portion 12 which in combination forms a body covering 13 which covers at least an upper portion of a medical personnel, such as a doctor, surgeon, nurse, technician, etc. The front side 11 preferably does not include any openings, slits, etc., which could allow the intrusion of liquids or pathogens. The back side 12 is longitudinally divided into a right side 14 and a left side 15, that includes ties 16, or other types of conventional fasteners such as snaps, button, releaseable adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, which when tied together secure the two sides (14 and 15) together.

The medical gown 10 includes a collar 20 and two oppositely disposed elongated sleeves 22. The medical gown 10 is made of an untinted, un-colored, clear, transparent, or translucent thermoplastic (for example, a clear polypropylene), referred herein collectively as transparent. The terms “transparent”, “translucent”, “untinted” or “un-colored” includes a plastic that has a white or whitish appearance that does not discolor objected seen through the gown 10, while the term “clear” is meant to convey an absence of all colors including the color white.

In use, medical personnel wearing a color coded medical scrubs S or other color coded article of clothing dons the medical gown 10 in a customary manner. The medical personnel may then carry out his or her duties while wearing the medical gown 10 over the color coded scrubs S.

The transparent or clear nature of the medical gown 10 allows the coloring of the color coded scrubs S be to readily visible to other medical personnel. As such, the present medical gown 10 does not hamper or interfere with the color coding of the color coded scrubs S worn by the medical personnel at the medical facility. Thus, the problem with prior medical gowns precluding or obstructing the purpose of color coded scrubs S is overcome by the present medical gown.

With reference next to FIG. 2, there is shown a medical gown 50 in a preferred form of the invention. The medical gown 50 has a front side or portion 51 extending to a back side or portion 52 which in combination forms a body covering 53 which covers at least an upper portion of a medical personnel, such as a doctor, surgeon, nurse, technician, etc. The back side 52 is longitudinally divided into a right side 54 and a left side 55, which includes ties 56, or other types of conventional fasteners such as snaps, button, releaseable adhesive, hook and loop type fasteners, which when tied together secure the two sides (54 and 55) together.

The medical gown 50 includes a collar 60 and two oppositely disposed elongated sleeves 62.

The medical gown 50 is made of a textile material, cloth or thermoplastic. A portion of the medical gown 50, shown in FIG. 2 as the front side 51, includes an untinted, un-colored, clear, transparent, or translucent window 66, made of a translucent material. The terms “transparent”, “translucent”, “untinted” or “un-colored” includes a plastic that has a white or whitish appearance that does not discolor objected seen through the gown 50, while the term “clear” is meant to convey an absence of all colors including the color white.

It should be understood that the transparent window 66 may be positioned anywhere on the medical gown 50 that would provide ready or unobstructed viewing through the window 66 of the color coded scrubs S worn by the medical personnel. Also, the medical gown 10 may be made with only a portion, such as the entire front side 54 or a portion of the front side 54, made of a transparent or translucent material while the back side 52 is made of a non-transparent material.

In use, the underlying color coded scrubs S worn by the medical personnel are viewable through the window 66 so that the color coding of the color coded scrubs S is readily apparent.

It thus is seen that the medical gown comprises a front side and a back side coupled to the front side. At least a portion of the front side is made of a transparent material positioned to enable the exposure of the color coded (underlying garment or apparel) worn by a person donning the medical gown.

Thus, a medical gown and medical scrub system comprises a color coded medical scrub, and a medical gown having front side and a rear side. A portion of the medical gown is transparent to enable the viewing of the color coded medical scrub beneath the medical gown.

It thus is seen that a medical gown is now provided that provides the ability to view the color coded scrubs worn by medical personnel through the gown. Although the medical gown has been illustrated and described in its preferred form, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions may be made to that specific form without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A medical gown comprising: a front side, and a back side coupled to said front side, wherein at least a portion of said front side is made of an untinted, transparent material positioned to enable the exposure of an underlying garment worn by a person donning the medical gown.
 2. The medical gown of claim 1 wherein the entire front side is made of a transparent material.
 3. The medical gown of claim 1 wherein the said front side and said back side are made of a transparent material.
 4. The medical gown of claim 1 wherein said transparent material portion is clear.
 5. The medical gown of claim 1 wherein said transparent material portion of said front side is in the form of a window.
 6. A medical gown for medical personnel wearing medical clothing beneath the medical gown, the medical gown comprising, a body covering configured to cover the torso of the medical personnel, said body covering having a window therein made of a transparent material, said window being positioned to overlay and expose the medical clothing worn by the medical personnel.
 7. The medical gown of claim 6 wherein said window comprises the entire front side of said body covering has a front side of said body covering.
 8. The medical gown of claim 6 wherein said transparent material is clear.
 9. A medical gown and medical scrub system comprising: a color coded medical scrub, and a medical gown having front side and a rear side, a portion of said medical gown being transparent to enable the viewing of said color coded medical scrub beneath said medical gown.
 10. The medical gown of claim 9 wherein the entire front side is transparent.
 11. The medical gown of claim 9 wherein the said front side and said back side are transparent.
 12. The medical gown of claim 9 wherein said transparent portion is clear. 